2023 California Fall Challenge - Supporting Our Work
For more than 40 years, the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory has worked to promote sustainability in the Bay Area and beyond by engaging communities in avian science, habitat restoration, and education. Between September 23 and October 31st we aim to raise $40,000 during our 2023 California Fall Challenge (CFC) to support our work to carry out our new, three-year Strategic Plan to INFORM, INSPIRE, and INVOLVE more communities in our work. Read below to learn how you can take the challenge!
Jump to sections:
2023 CFC T-Shirt | Bird Photo Big Day | Band-a-Thon | Birdy Hours | Urban Green Spaces Photo Contest | Online Silent Auction | Other Giving and Fundraising Ideas | Annual Membership Meeting
2023 CFC T-Shirt | Bird Photo Big Day | Band-a-Thon | Birdy Hours | Urban Green Spaces Photo Contest | Online Silent Auction | Other Giving and Fundraising Ideas | Annual Membership Meeting
2023 CFC T-Shirt
Please consider making a generous donation by Oct. 31st! Donation of $80 or more are eligible to receive a 2023 SFBBO t-shirt. The estimated value of the t-shirt ($15) is not tax deductible. We are taking pre-orders in September and October and will be printing and mailing out the shirts in November 2023. These shirts will not be available after Oct. 2023, so order yours today!
CFC T-Shirt Theme: The 2023 CFC T-Shirt artwork (pictured) was designed by Marina Dimitrov and is on a black shirt. The owls showcased on the shirt - Burrowing, Short-eared, and Great Horned - have a lot to teach us about sustainability. As apex predators, they are both vulnerable to climate change, habitat loss, and other environmental issues and their presence plays a critical role in helping ecosystems stay in balance. Their direct gaze and charismatic beauty connect us to nature and inspire us to continue our work. By wearing our shirt, you can help tell the story of birds to your community and invite others to get involved. Donate Today! Donations can be made by clicking on the red and white button below. They can also be made by check to San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, 524 Valley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035. These shirts will not be available after October 2023, so order yours soon! If you are interested in a shirt, after you make a donation please write to outreach@sfbbo.org and let us know what style and size you would like. Shirt Size Charts: Womens Relaxed Fit Tee, Unisex Jersey Tee |
Bird Photo Big Day
Join SFBBO for the Bird Photo Big Day on Saturday, September 23rd, 2023. The goal is to capture photos of as many bird species in one day, all as one distributed team. All levels of birders and photographers are welcome!
Don't want to take photos but still want to participate? The team needs folks to watch the number of species grow during the day, help identify bird species, and cheer the team on. Once the photos are uploaded, the organizers will tally the species on Sunday! Click here for more details about the event. CFC T-Shirts: Donations of $80 or more are eligible to receive our 2023 CFC T-Shirt (photo of the shirt above). Click here to make a donation. Checks can also be sent to San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, 524 Valley Road, Milpitas, CA 95035. These shirts will not be available after October 2023, so order yours soon! |
Band-a-Thon for CCFS
Participate in our 2023 Band-a-Thon to support our bird banding research at the Coyote Creek Field Station (CCFS). Pledge to donate a certain amount per bird caught at CCFS during a month from Sept. 23rd-Oct. 22nd (you can put a cap on the amount you give).
Since 2003, captures during this period have ranged from 379-1026 birds. Send an email to outreach@sfbbo.org to make a pledge. Or you can donate a straight lump sum donation to support the Band-a-Thon. CFC T-Shirts: Donations of $80 or more are eligible to receive our 2023 CFC T-Shirt (photo of the shirt above). Click here to donate, checks can also be sent to San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, 524 Valley Road, Milpitas, CA 95035. These shirts will not be available after October 2023, so order yours soon! |
Special Updates: All Band-a-Thon donors will receive special quarterly updates about our CCFS field station for the next year to learn about the impact of your support.
Bird Bingo Game: Everyone (donors and non-donors alike) is also invited to participate in a FREE virtual bird bingo game during the Band-a-Thon to learn more about the birds that frequent our field station. Write to Science Director Katie LaBarbera at klabarbera@sfbbo.org to receive your free bingo card.
Bird Bingo Game: Everyone (donors and non-donors alike) is also invited to participate in a FREE virtual bird bingo game during the Band-a-Thon to learn more about the birds that frequent our field station. Write to Science Director Katie LaBarbera at klabarbera@sfbbo.org to receive your free bingo card.
CFC Birdy Hours
Join our special owl-themed CFC Birdy Hours with Lynne Trulio and Stephanie Ellis and get inspired to donate to help birds thrive.
- Free to Participate: These virtual events are free and are also fundraisers, so we invite everyone to join the fun and give generously to help birds.
- CFC T-Shirts: Donations of $80 or more are eligible to receive our 2023 CFC T-Shirt (photo of the shirt above). You can make a donation when you register for the Birdy Hour. Checks can also be sent to San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, 524 Valley Road, Milpitas, CA 95035. These shirts will not be available after October 2023, so order yours soon!
- Raise Money: We hope participants will make a donation to our CFC and take their support to the next level by bringing their friends and family to these special Birdy Hours and invite them to donate to SFBBO, too.
Burrowing Owls of the Bay Area
Birdy Hour with Dr. Lynne Trulio Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 6:00-7:00 p.m. Register Today! Learn the latest about the life and times of our local Burrowing Owls from a researcher who has studied them for over 30 years. There's more to know about their migratory behavior and about the attachment Burrowing Owls show to their mates and to where they nest. While Burrowing Owls are fascinating in and of themselves, they are also indicators of environmental sustainability, especially with respect to some of the nation's most endangered habitats--grasslands. Learn what Burrowing Owls are telling us about how to preserve and sustainably manage grasslands for the benefit of wildlife and people. |
Snowy Owls of the Northeast
Birdy Hour with Stephanie Ellis Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 5:30-6:30 p.m. Register Today! Join us to hear about the journey of Snowy Owls from the Arctic to the shores of Cape Cod each winter. She will discuss their life cycle and behavior as well as local research findings that detail why they choose to spend their winters in New England. She'll touch upon what it was like to rehabilitate a Snowy Owl that was brought to Wild Care in January of 2022, and how we can all contribute to the safety and survival of these incredible creatures. Don't miss this special presentation! |
Urban Green Spaces Photo Contest
When we protect ecosystems that birds rely on, we protect ecosystems for us all. From bustling city parks to backyard oases hidden within the urban sprawl, our 2023 CFC Photo Contest invites you to explore and celebrate the vibrant ecosystems thriving amidst the concrete jungle. In honor of our updated mission statement to promote sustainability in the Bay Area and beyond by engaging communities in avian science, habitat restoration, and education, please help tell the story of how native plants, insects, and animals adapt and thrive in urban environments. Let your lens capture the magic within our cities and raise awareness about the beauty and importance of these areas.
The contest is runs from Sept. 23rd through Oct. 21st, 2023. Winning photos will be showcased on our website, social media, and newsletters and winners will receive great prizes and be invited to attend our Annual Meeting on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at the South Bay Yacht Club in Alviso. Click here to learn more and register! CFC T-Shirts: Donations of $80 or more are eligible to receive our 2023 CFC T-Shirt (photo of the shirt above). Click here to make a donation. Checks can also be sent to San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, 524 Valley Road, Milpitas, CA 95035. These shirts will not be available after October 2023, so order yours soon! |
How to participate:
* A nonexclusive, worldwide, perpetual, fully-paid, royalty-free license to use the photographs in any manner related to the contest or its conservation work (i.e. for its websites, newsletters, social media, and other publications.) Consider this another wonderful way to make a donation to SFBBO!
We will choose one Category Winner and two Honorable Mention Winners in each of the following 5 categories:
- Register to enter your photos in the contest - only one entry per category per participant allowed
- Free to participate, but this is also a fundraiser to support our bird conservation science and outreach programs, so donations of all levels are welcome and appreciated.
- Donations of $80 or more are eligible to receive our 2023 CFC Shirt. You can make a donation when you register.
- Photos do not need to be taken during the contest dates, but they do need to be taken somewhere in the nine Bay Area counties.
- Nature first! Please practice mindfulness and avoid harming all flora and fauna while taking photos.
- Follow local laws and rules and please respect property rights.
- Celebrating Winners - Winning photos will be showcased on our website, social media, and newsletters (photographers will be credited) and winners will receive great prizes and be invited to attend our Annual Meeting on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at the South Bay Yacht Club in Alviso.
- Submission of images grants SFBBO rights to use the photographs.*
* A nonexclusive, worldwide, perpetual, fully-paid, royalty-free license to use the photographs in any manner related to the contest or its conservation work (i.e. for its websites, newsletters, social media, and other publications.) Consider this another wonderful way to make a donation to SFBBO!
We will choose one Category Winner and two Honorable Mention Winners in each of the following 5 categories:
- Nature's Resilience - Photos showing nature's ability to thrive in urban spaces (such as a photo of a dandelion growing through a crack in concrete or mushrooms growing on a pile of mulch).
- Backyard Biodiversity - Photos of wildlife found in residential backyards, community gardens, etc. (such as a photo of a brush rabbit nibbling on vegetation in someone's backyard vegetable garden, a squirrel stealing seeds from a backyard bird feeder, or a monarch butterfly on a narrowleaf milkweed plant).
- Native Flora: Explore the beauty of native plants (such as a photograph highlighting the intricate details of a wild California poppy or a wider photo that showcases native plants in a habitat restoration site).
- Macro Magic: Zoom in on the tiniest urban inhabitants (such as a close-up of a ladybug you spot perched on a leaf growing near a sidewalk, showcasing its vibrant red shell and tiny black spots or a vivid pink rosebud covered in morning dew, the tiny water droplets magnified like gemstones against the petals)
- Urban Greenscapes: Wider shots that showcase the greenery amongst the urban landscape are ideal. Overhead/aerial shots that highlight the expanse of urban forests and trails are also welcome. The focus should be on presenting urban green spaces from a zoomed out view.
Online Silent Auction
From Sunday, Sept. 24th through Sunday, Oct. 22nd, 2023, you can bid on wonderful items and experiences. Click here to access the Online Auction Site. Bid on the following items:
Guided Trips and Experiences: There are several Private Excursions to choose from, including A Burrowing Owl Habitat Walk, a Butterfly and Bird Walk, and a Springtime Wildflower Walk. Bring a few friends for a Bird Banding Demonstration at our Coyote Creek Field Station or take a Marshland Serenity Boat Tour with SFBBO staff and community experts. Get in your bids for a Free Ticket to the John Muir Laws' Virtual Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference or a Spot on a Pelagic Trip with Alvaro's Adventures. You can also find Two Tickets for a Boat Trip with Elkhorn Slough Safari or treat yourself to an Exclusive Private Guided Walk with Well-Known Birder and Field Guide Author Jon Dunn! |
Outdoor Gear and Clothing: Heading the list is a Pair of Vortex Diamondback Binoculars and a Meridian Tent from Columbia Sportswear! You can find Refugio Day Packs and a Black Hole Tote Pack, and don’t forget those Better Sweaters from Patagonia. There are Bird-themed Water Bottles, a Gift Card for Hats at Headliners, an On-the-Go Duffle Bag and a well-equipped Camp Kitchen. Be sure to check out our bird themed T-shirts.
Home and Garden: Reward yourself with a Handmade Peacock-Themed Lap Quilt or Two Adorable Handmade Crocheted Snowy Plovers. Choose a Blueberry Coneflower Standing Bird Feeder, a Barn Owl Box from the Los Gatos Birdwatcher, Bird-themed Coffee Mugs, and assorted flavors of Birds and Beans bird-friendly Coffee! Get a fun Picnic Basket of picnic goodies, and Tote Bags with Birdy Themes. Take home a wonderful handmade, Bird-Themed Patchwork Pillow created by SFBBO Science Director Katie LaBarbera, made from cloth left over from making the bags the team uses at the Coyote Creek Fied Station.
And More: Beautiful Artwork, including Paintings of Snowy Plovers and Least Terns and two Unique Handmade Feathered Masks and a Feathered Top Hat, Puzzles and Games, Gift Certificates for Local Stores and Restaurants, and Lots and Lots of Books!
Home and Garden: Reward yourself with a Handmade Peacock-Themed Lap Quilt or Two Adorable Handmade Crocheted Snowy Plovers. Choose a Blueberry Coneflower Standing Bird Feeder, a Barn Owl Box from the Los Gatos Birdwatcher, Bird-themed Coffee Mugs, and assorted flavors of Birds and Beans bird-friendly Coffee! Get a fun Picnic Basket of picnic goodies, and Tote Bags with Birdy Themes. Take home a wonderful handmade, Bird-Themed Patchwork Pillow created by SFBBO Science Director Katie LaBarbera, made from cloth left over from making the bags the team uses at the Coyote Creek Fied Station.
And More: Beautiful Artwork, including Paintings of Snowy Plovers and Least Terns and two Unique Handmade Feathered Masks and a Feathered Top Hat, Puzzles and Games, Gift Certificates for Local Stores and Restaurants, and Lots and Lots of Books!
Other Giving and Fundraising Ideas
Personal Fundraising: Help raise money for SFBBO during the CFC by hosting your own personal Facebook fundraiser or asking us to create your own fundraising page on our website (contact outreach@sfbbo.org to learn how). Donations of $80 or more are eligible to receive our 2023 CFC T-shirt (photo of the shirt above). Volunteers who raise more than $700 for SFBBO during the CFC can receive an SFBBO 40th Anniversary cap!
Donate Your Used Vehicle: SFBBO relies on trucks and cars to conduct our field research. If you have a used truck or car in good condition that you are looking to donate, please consider donating it to SFBBO so we can use it in the field. To donate a truck or car for SFBBO to use, please contact Senior Ecologist Cole Jower at cjower@sfbbo.org. If you have a truck or car that is not in good (or running) condition, you can still help by donating it to CARS and we will receive a percentage of the worth of the car. Other Online Donation Spaces: SFBBO can also receive donations you make through the PayPal Giving Fund, eBay for Charity, and Facebook. |
2023 Annual Membership Meeting
The California Fall Challenge will culminate at our Annual Meeting!
Date: Saturday, Nov. 4th, 2023
Time: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (with an optional bird walk at 8:30 a.m.)
Venue: South Bay Yacht Club in Alviso
The event is open to our current SFBBO Members and CFC volunteers. It will include an update from Executive Director Chris Overington and Board Co-Chairs Lynne Trulio and Bruce Paton, information stations where staff will share about their work, a guest speaker (TBA), highlights from the 2023 California Fall Challenge, and a great lunch! Click here to renew your membership or become a new member.
Corporate Sponsors: Thank you to H.T. Harvey & Associates for their generous donation to support the Annual Meeting! Companies and businesses interested in being Corporate Sponsors for this event can contact Outreach Director Kristin Butler at kbutler@sfbbo.org.
Date: Saturday, Nov. 4th, 2023
Time: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (with an optional bird walk at 8:30 a.m.)
Venue: South Bay Yacht Club in Alviso
The event is open to our current SFBBO Members and CFC volunteers. It will include an update from Executive Director Chris Overington and Board Co-Chairs Lynne Trulio and Bruce Paton, information stations where staff will share about their work, a guest speaker (TBA), highlights from the 2023 California Fall Challenge, and a great lunch! Click here to renew your membership or become a new member.
Corporate Sponsors: Thank you to H.T. Harvey & Associates for their generous donation to support the Annual Meeting! Companies and businesses interested in being Corporate Sponsors for this event can contact Outreach Director Kristin Butler at kbutler@sfbbo.org.